Seattle’s Child “The Career Change Issue” January/February 2025 by seattleschild

ADVANCE IN MATH this Summer

RSM is an award-winning after-school math enrichment program. Students can choose from a variety of K-12 courses that will be taught during our 6-week summer session.

RSM is “among the top 10 schools in the world.” – Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

Inclusive classes for all ages and abilities Year-Round Classes

2025 Summer Multi-Arts Camps

Musical Theatre (Wicked Moana Descendants), Ballet Stories, Taylor Swift, Art in Motion, EnviroDance, Hip Hop, and Stories in Motion

January/February 2025 // Issue 509

“Seattle is my town. I know this city inside and out… or so I thought until I had kids.”

Seattle’s Child is your guide to getting to know your city all over again. Finding things to do, places to eat, and how to get around — it’s a whole new ballgame with kids in tow. We’re interested in how parents make homes in a space-challenged urban environment, how families create community, and what parents are really talking about. Seattle’s Child reflects real Washington families and their broad range of parenting experiences.

Don’t miss these stories on seattleschild.com

Children’s Alliance to 2025 legislature: Take bold action!

Should WA schools superintendent be appointed rather than elected? 1 2

How to get kids to clean and help around the house 3

»What Parents Are Talking About

Education, health, development and more

Playfield or school sports turf?

Wallingford controversy is emblematic of citywide issue

by ELIZABETH HUNTER / photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) announced plans last fall to convert the grass field at Wallingford Playfield into a lighted synthetic turf football field for nearby Lincoln High School, the only public high school in the city without a dedicated football field. Voters gave the go-ahead to pay for it in a 2022 tax levy.

Backlash to the announcement was swift.

SPS received hundreds of emails, more than a thousand people signed a petition to “Save Wallingford Playfield,” and an organization called the Wallingford Park Alliance formed in opposition to the conversion plan — even hiring an attorney. The Alliance proposed an alternative — a full-sized field could fit at Woodland Park’s undeveloped lot at 50th and Aurora.

In November, SPS pared

down its proposal, offering plans for a half-sized, unlit synthetic turf practice field at Wallingford Park. The new proposal would leave some of the grass field but wouldn’t cut it for high school football or soccer games.

The case for turf sports field

Seattle’s population has grown more than 20% in the last ten years, often topping the list of fastest growing cities in America. One way in which Seattle has outgrown itself is the lack of practice space for school sports. Middle and high school students

across the city often practice far away from school grounds. Right now, the Lincoln football team practices and plays at Seattle Center’s Memorial Stadium, about a 15-minute drive from the school.

Wallingford Playfield is a five-minute walk.

According to SPS, Wallingford Playfield was chosen after extensive review of 14 other sites. The playfield is large enough to fit a full-length football field, without affecting the park’s playground, tennis courts, or wading pool.

The grass field at Wallingford Playfield.

«What Parents Are Talking About

Moreover, beneath the grass in the park is a layer of sand that allows for drainage. A grass field in a rainy city is bound to be muddy, but sand-based fields can work in wet climates with proper maintenance,

Another argument for the plan? Wallingford Playfield is kind of a mess. The grass is patchy and uneven, and many neighbors use it as an unsanctioned off-leash dog park. Residents complain that Seattle Parks and Recreation isn’t providing sufficient care for the field. For their part, Seattle Parks and Recreation supports the conversion of Wallingford Playfield into turf.

The case for greenspace

Right now, Wallingford Playfield is considered “unstructured greenspace,” which means it is free and open to the public without reservations. On any given day, the field hosts pickup soccer games, tai chi, camps, after-school programs, frisbee, and more. A full-sized synthetic turf football field would cover 85% of the park’s greenspace, and may require reservations to use. In a letter to SPS, Wallingford Park Alliance lawyer Rick Aramburu points to several historical documents that enshrine Wallingford Park as unstructured greenspace.

Wallingford resident Ava Sazanami says that kind of space is getting rarer: “Dwindling greenspace in urban areas will only become more pointed with global warming, and people are likely going to feel more defensive of the green spaces that remain,” Sazanami said.

Furthermore, recent studies have identified numerous known carcinogens in synthetic turf such as phthalates and

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs). The process of cleaning up PFAs — known as forever chemicals — is complex and expensive.

Turf, unlike grass, traps daytime heat. That trapped heat in turn warms both the air around it and the water that drains beneath it. Warmer runoff water further aggravates an already stressed water cycle.

There are few environmental regulations on the disposal of artificial turf, and while it is possible to recycle some components of artificial turf, much of it will end up in a landfill in ten years’ time.

A Neighborhood Divided Attendees at the Hamilton meeting declared their allegiance through apparel — red Lincoln High School gear for those in support of the turf field, green bandanas for those opposed.

Nearly 60 people participated in the open comment portion of the meeting, including turf proponent Levi Hanscom, Lincoln High School associated student body president and a cross-country runner.

In a neighborhood with incredible parks like Gasworks and Meridian, Hanscom said, Wallingford Playfield isn’t the only greenspace. As a senior, Levi will be long graduated before any ground is broken. He’s not advocating for himself. He wants this field for the next generation. After all, he said to the divided crowd: “We’re not strangers. We’re your kids. We’re your grandkids.”

At presstime, a spokesperson for Seattle Parks & Recreation said that moving forward with a playfield conversion proposal is “the school district’s decision to make.”

“So far, they have not released a proposal to us,” Seattle Parks’ Rachel Schulkin said.

» Dad Next Door

A little encouragement from across the fence

by JEFF LEE, MD

The boys aren’t alright

When I was a kid, I was a crier. Whenever I lost a game, or made a mistake, my face would redden and the tears would come. My parents, who were never comfortable with strong feelings, teased me whenever this happened. Boys don’t cry. You’re acting like a girl.

They meant well. They wanted me to master my emotions, just as they had. And I did — kind of. I learned to squelch the tears. As an adult, I didn’t cry again until my mid-forties, when my marriage fell apart, and then I couldn’t stop for weeks. Since then, I tear up occasionally, but it’s not easy. It’s a skill I unlearned well.

I once heard the writer Ross Gay tell a story about his high school football coach. One day he launched an angry tirade at Ross, laced with insults that questioned his masculinity, meant to shame and humiliate him. Those words etched themselves into his memory.

Years later, he told his wife the story, and that the worst part had been that he couldn’t tell anyone else what happened. Why not, she asked. Because if he had, he would have cried. And what would have happened if he’d cried? Then he would have had to kill everything and everyone who had witnessed it.

I believe him — not that he would have done it, but that he would have felt as if he had to. I believe him because every day there are boys and men who feel that same rage and shame, and then do the unspeakable. Just pick up the newspaper — it’s plastered all over the front page.

Margaret Atwood once wrote that, “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.” What we often forget is that the two fears are connected. By indoctrinating boys into a version of masculinity that defines vulnerability as weakness, we do them a double disservice. First we force them into a state of wounded shame. Then we leave them no outlet for that shame other than dominance and aggression.

There’s only one way out of this mess. We have to redefine masculinity in a way that includes, and even celebrates, vulnerability. By vulnerability, I

mean the courage to admit and accept our flaws, and to ask for help. We have to teach our boys that this is not weakness — it’s strength.

There’s plenty of data to back that up. People who are willing and able to show vulnerability are much more likely to make intimate connections. They make better, more respected leaders. They report higher levels of happiness, health, and financial success. If you want to see your kids have fulfilling lives, one of the biggest gifts you can give them is a comfort with vulnerability.

Of course, all of this is much easier said than done. Right now, we are seeing a convulsive backlash against the redefinition of gender roles, and it’s playing out publicly on a national scale. All around us, men in prominent positions are proffering a version of manhood based on unchecked dominance and aggression.

Right after the election, the white supremacist Nick Fuentes gleefully tweeted the message: “Your body. My choice. Forever.” In the following days, it was reposted 35,000 times, and viewed by more than 90 million people. Since then, there have been reports of boys chanting the slogan at girls in the halls of their schools.

It’s easy to dismiss them as stupid kids who don’t know any better. Oh well, boys will be boys. But sometimes, with the right mix of goading, shame, and tacit approval, boys become the Hitler Youth, or the Khmer Rouge.

It’s horrifying, but we can’t afford for it to be debilitating. If anything, we need to stiffen our spines and redouble our efforts. We need to create as many spaces as possible where our boys feel safe to be flawed, uncertain, emotional human beings. We need to look out for our own casual, inadvertent messages about masculine strength and weakness. We need to be better.

Sometimes resistance looks like people marching in the streets. But this time, it also looks like a boy being gently comforted when he’s crying, hurt, or afraid.

ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Jeff Lee tears up watching sappy movies, just for practice, in Seattle, WA.

»ToolBox

What every parent needs to have on hand

Is it asthma?

What parents need to know about diagnosis and triggers

by DR. SUSANNA BLOCK

You take thousands of breaths every day — in and out without thinking about it. Unless you have asthma. Asthma symptoms in children can range from mild wheezing to serious shortness of breath to attacks that can be life-threatening. It can mean worrying about triggers, missed school, and sitting out from sports.

OK, take a deep breath! Asthma can be frightening but there are ways to treat asthma and to avoid triggers that make it worse.

Often starting during childhood, frequently before age 5, asthma is the most common childhood chronic disease and is a lifelong condition. Asthma attacks happen when the tiny muscles around the airways constrict, which makes it harder to move air in and out of the lungs. They become inflamed or swollen, which can increase mucus, which in turn blocks even more of the flow of air. Not a good cycle.

Kids and asthma: symptoms, dangers Asthma flare-ups, or attacks, can come on gradually or suddenly, but there are often some warning signs or buildup before attacks. Some kids may not have any symptoms at all between attacks, but others have mild to moderate symptoms a lot of the time between flare-ups.

You might hear your child coughing while they sleep or see labored breathing when they exercise or play. Or your child might say they are always coughing, or their chest feels funny. Pay attention to breathing symptoms before it becomes an emergency. Note any triggers or patterns and talk with your provider about a diagnosis.

When to get emergency treatment

If your child has these symptoms, get emergency medical help right away: severe coughing, serious breathing problems, you see their chest, abdomen, or sides pulling in when they try to breathe, they have widened nostrils, or are turning very pale or blue in the face, lips and/or fingernails.

Flare-ups are often triggered by irritants or allergens, including mold,

cigarette smoke and unhealthy indoor conditions like dampness and carpeting. Asthma can be made worse or brought on by respiratory illness like the flu, COVID or RSV. Whether your child has asthma symptoms or not, it’s important to get them vaccinated for influenza and COVID at the beginning of the winter season for the best levels of protection.

This year, we’re already seeing higher rates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, sometimes called “walking pneumonia,” especially among young children. While it can be a mild respiratory illness that appears like a chest cold, it can trigger serious complications including new or worsening asthma. Kids and asthma: treatment, control Asthma symptoms can be effectively controlled and avoided. If your child has asthma, consider all these treatments or factors:

• A prescribed “rescue inhaler” that relaxes those tiny muscles around the airways can be used during an acute attack. Your child should have the inhaler with them at all times — an inhaler can only rescue your child if they can get to it and use it.

• Control medicines are used regularly to reduce inflammation and prevent the airways from narrowing. Not all children need control medicines, but if they have severe asthma or frequent symptoms, regular treatment can help.

• Avoid triggers including cigarette

smoke, mold, pollen, and viral infections like the flu and COVID.

• Improve indoor air quality by cleaning bedding and carpets frequently, using an air filter, and fixing leaks and using dehumidifiers to prevent mold.

• If you have pets, keep them out of your child’s bedroom, and if you suspect you have pests (hey, it happens) call pest control.

Public Health — Seattle & King County supports families with asthma care through the Community Asthma Program. Eligible residents can participate in sessions with a community health worker specializing in asthma care and get a home environment assessment with a tailored plan to reduce asthma triggers in the home.

Educating yourself and addressing some of the triggers can move your child’s asthma from serious or persistent asthma to “well-controlled” asthma. Well-controlled asthma means fewer missed days at school or play, fewer emergency room visits, happier kids, and more relaxed parents!

ABOUT OUR COLUMNIST

Dr. Susanna Block, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Seattle and lives with her family in Queen Anne.

»Romp

Things to do with kids

Books and Bites

Browse, read, eat, listen, and connect at these ‘third’ places by CHERYL MURFIN / photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Every family needs a “third place” — that is, a public spot outside of home (one’s first place) and work or school (second places) where people of all ages come together to connect, relax, read, enjoy a bite, maybe listen to music. Especially during the winter months, kid-friendly bookshops with in-store eats are an ideal third place option.

The Couth Buzzard

When Hilary and Tallis Moore were expecting their son, Stan, they asked themselves, “What are the things that are most important to us that we want in this kid’s life?

“At the top of the list was community,” says Hilary. Music, food, and books filled out the list. When they learned The Couth

Buzzard bookstore and cafe was for sale, the Moores couldn’t believe their luck: A place of gathering, entertainment, and, of course, books and food for more than 30 years, the laid back Couth Buzzard is a Greenwood institution. It’s a place where families gather, Girl Scout troops meet, and percussionists (and a lot of other musical groups) play. The bookstore’s calendar is packed with events for all ages.

The Moores did minor renovations last summer, creating a more open space where entertainers playing at the back can be seen and heard from the storefront. They also reoriented the children’s book area so that kids can cuddle up with books within eyesight of parents sipping coffee at the cafe counter.

5 things to do Places to see green despite the gray

Seattle has several family-friendly indoor garden environments with vibrant flowers and unique plant collections year-round. Step out of the cold and gray into some green this winter.

Bellevue Botanical Garden Atrium

Rotating indoor exhibits, art installations, and displays highlight seasonal plants, gardening tips, and educational themes. Outdoors, check out sculptures and a suspension bridge. Open dawn until dusk every day of the year, including all holidays. Admission is free.

Volunteer Park Conservatory

This glasshouse conservatory on Capitol Hill showcases tropical and desert plants in a warm indoor environment. Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Adults $8, youth (6-17) $6, and children 5 and under free.

University of Washington Biology Greenhouses

“As new parents ourselves, we designed the space as a place … where if a toddler wants to join a percussion circle, they are welcomed by the whole group enthusiastically, and if a 70-year-old wants to be a part of kid’s story time, or even be a special guest musician or storyteller, they get to,” Hilary says. “That’s part of the magic Tallis and I were drawn toward.”

The couple is also committed to supporting the community. The cafe has a pay-what-you-can policy for a small coffee, tea, or day-old pastries. “We want to be a space where everybody feels really welcome, no matter what their economic situation is,” says Hilary.

• Don’t miss: Kid’s storytime each Saturday at 10 a.m.

• Unique: There’s never a charge for a group to meet. Moms’ circle meet-up, anyone? Nearly

The greenhouses are a hidden gem and an educational experience. They have a wide variety of plants, from tropical to desert. They are free and open Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Amazon Spheres

These unique downtown Seattle orbs blend innovative design with more than 40,000 plants from around the world, creating a lush indoor rainforest. Public tours are free and take place on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Tropical Butterfly House at Pacific Science Center

Enjoy a rainforest environment, featuring hundreds of free-flying butterflies year-round. Printed guides help identify plants and butterflies. Adults $26.95, youth (3-17) $20.20, toddlers are free.

—Jasmin Thankachen

The Couth Buzzard’s new owners Tallis and Hillary Moore, with son Stanley.

«Romp

90% of the store’s book stock is used, which is a plus for the family budget. Ada’s Technical Books and Cafe

Don’t be scared away by the name. Ada’s is a store where kids (and adults) can explore the wide world of DIY and skill-building and connect with some incredible women of technology (not the least of whom is Ada Lovelace, co-creator of the first computer and the shop’s namesake).

A warm, cozy chair sits by the fireplace as chill music fills the air. Next to the chair, the kids’ book corner offers up books for learning new skills, captivating biographies about important people in STEM history, puzzles, games, and early DIY electronics for kids. Beyond acknowledging women pioneers, store staff say the shelves in the kids’ corner are committed to racial equity and progressive ideas. Right in the middle of all that recognition sits Ada’s cafe, with sumptuous baked goods and tasty vegetarian fare.

• Don’t miss: Watch Ada’s event page for the kids’ Social Justice Storytime, which will return soon.

• Unique: Check out Ada’s Introduction to D&D game night for middle and high

schoolers.

Third Place Books

It’s right there in the name. Each of these three stores has a well-stocked kids’ section and employees ready and eager with recommendations. They offer new and used books, host community events, and, while they don’t have cafes inside the bookstore, each partners with an adjacent eatery within the

building, all of which offer an abundance of items kids will love: Baked goods? Honey Bear Bakery at the Lake Forest Park Third Place. Burger? Chuck’s Hop Shop at the Seward Park location. Mediterranean fare? Cafe Arta at Ravenna location.

• Don’t miss: The kid events page to learn about a range of happenings.

• Unique: Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park was one of the first bookstores designed to be a “community hub.”

Logical + Imaginative + Intense + Verbal + Observant + Hands-on

Gifted children exhibit these characteristics every day. Even so, many gifted students, especially children of color, remain overlooked in class. Not so at Seattle Country Day School. We offer our students an environment where they can ask questions, create, and grow intellectually and emotionally. See if SCDS is right for your child. Reach out today to admissions@seattlecountryday.org.

Seattle Country Day School For gifted children, K–8 Rooted in inquiry. Dedicated to equity. seattlecountryday.org/admissions

Elliott Bay Book Company

Let’s just call it the mother ship that it is. It makes sense that Elliott Bay Book Company’s kids’ area is centered around a large wooden boat that little ones like to climb on and cuddle down in with a book. In 2024, Elliott Bay on Capitol Hill celebrated 50 years of connecting people to books. The Little Oddfellows cafe is just three bookshelves away and a great place to gather around a table and read, play games, or chill.

• Don’t miss: Check out the kid events page.

• Unique: Both Salt & Straw and Molly Moon’s ice cream shops are within walking distance.

No in-store cafes, but family favorites with food very nearby:

• Queen Anne Book Company: It has a small but well-curated kids’ section. Walk your finds out of the shop and right into Queen Anne Coffee Co. or next door to Moonrise Bakery, a great books-and-bites outing.

• Island Books: Talk about an extensive children’s book collection. Don’t miss Singing and Stories with Nancy Stewart on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., then drop in next door for something tasty at Homegrown.

Elliott Bay Book Company

Join the Green Lake Litter Patrol

Pull on your get-dirty clothes and head out to Seattle’s Green Lake any Sunday to join the Green Lake Litter Patrol. Each week the crew spends two to three hours collecting litter with the goal of a cleaner, healthier park. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. So far, the patrol has logged more than 5,430 hours of volunteer service. Dress for the weather. Questions? Contact Head Litter Picker G. Todd Young at 206-300-1268 or 3gtoddyoung@windermere.com. —Cheryl Murfin

»Care

‘A lifeboat of possibility’

Tesfaye N., his wife Yemata and their kids have lived in their three-bedroom home in Bothell’s Holly Hills neighborhood for ten years. The house is a far cry from the two-bedroom apartment on Capitol Hill the family called home for many years.

“The rent was unstable. We could never save money,” says Tesfaye, who immigrated with his wife from Ethiopia to Washington in 2003. (Families requested first names be used for this article to protect their privacy.)

During a recent virtual interview, Tesfaye’s son Michael was getting ready for soccer practice as daughter Tsion chatted excitedly about the Running Start nursing program at North Creek High School. Yemata was at work, but tinsel Christmas decorations gleamed in the background. Daughter Beamlak, Tesfaye proudly notes, attends college at the University of Southern California.

In other words, the scene was that of a thriving, happy family.

The house has three bedrooms, a yard, and a community. They love their home, Tesfaye says, and more importantly they aren’t constantly worrying about their home.

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership program, they’ll never have to worry about rent again.

Habitat Homeownership

Helps Families — and Society

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King/Kittitas County has helped more than 2,600 people

in the region find safe, stable housing. They offer several ways to help people find, buy, and stay in their homes, a desperately needed service during an unprecedented housing crisis.

Right now, with mortgage rates hovering around 6-8% and the average home price in King County a whopping $800,000, homeownership can feel like a pipe dream for working class families.

State programs designed to help low-income Washingtonians purchase a home are con-

fusing and underutilized. One such program, the Low-Income Tax Credit Program that gives low-income tenants the chance to purchase their rented home after it has been on the market for 15 years, hasn’t seen a single home purchase since 2023.

Meanwhile, rent is so expensive it’s hard to save for a down payment. Even as the national rental market cooled, Seattle’s average rent increased. It currently costs around $2,700 per month for a two-bedroom

In step with Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program by ELIZABETH HUNTER photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

Creating communities where kids flourish

Tesfaye and Yemata, with two of their children, outside their Habitat for Humanity home.

«Care

apartment in the city. Residential stability is important for a healthy society. When rents are high and homeownership is difficult to attain, cities begin to experience frequent turnover, or churn, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Even long-time Seattle residents feel the squeeze. Today Scott G. owns a Habitat home in Highland Terrace, but says, “In the past, my average airline industry income made living in Seattle productive and comfortable. [But] as local housing costs soared, I found myself completely priced out of ‘my’ city — my home of the last 35 years. It felt like we were drowning.”

Stable housing is crucial for children’s development as well. Research shows housing instability negatively affects children’s physical, mental, and social-emotional health. Families

who are forced to move frequently become stressed. They can lose access to social services, and their kids can have trouble making friends at school.

How Habitat

Homeownership Works

The Habitat Homeownership program works like this: prospective homebuyers must earn 80% or less than the median income for the area. In King County, for example, the maximum income for applicants is about $110,000 per year for a family of four, including all household income. Homebuyers must be able to pay the mortgage, connect with the community (either by residing or working in the community), and partner with Habitat through volunteer work.

State Housing Finance Commission to provide homebuyers with an affordable mortgage.

If the homebuyer can’t secure a mortgage for the full price of the home, Habitat finances the remainder. The homebuyer can work at a Habitat building site or in one of Habitat’s three Habitat for Humanity Stores.

Tesfaye applied to the program three times before he was accepted for a home in Bothell.

“Habitat felt like it was pulling us up into a lifeboat of possibility.”

—SCOTT G. Habitat homeowner

“The process is not easy. There is a lot of paperwork,” he says. Tesfaye worked in the Habitat for Humanity Store toward fulfillment of his Habitat partnership.

skills building the homes. I had never used a chop saw in my life and now I could do that!”

The Intangibles

When Habitat SKKC surveyed its homeowners, they reported significant long-term improvement in categories like health, school, careers, financial security, safety, and overall quality of life.

Respondents — 99% of them — reported increased emotional health and happiness.

Ten years on, Tesfaye and his family are flourishing in Holly Hills.

“Bothell is quiet, safe, a great place to raise kids, and the schools are great,” Tesfaye says.

Once accepted, Habitat representatives work with lenders approved by the Washington

Other Habitat buyers have enjoyed learning practical construction skills: Sam M., who recently moved with her daughter to a Habitat home in South Park, says “I learned so many

“When I lived in an apartment, there was no money left over. Now I can afford to pay for some things for my daughter because I save some money. It is very important for me to have this Habitat house,” says Tesfaye.

“I know it sounds corny,” Scott says. “Habitat felt like it was pulling us up into a lifeboat of possibility.”

The YWCA says its emergency shelter is seeing a significant uptick in need as the only shelter operating year-round in south Snohomish County. You can help with donations of household supplies, new toiletries, new baby supplies, and family essentials.

Household supplies:

• pots

• pans

• silverware

• plates

• dishes

• sheets (twin/ full)

• comforters (twin/full/ queen)

Baby supplies:

• diapers/Pull-Ups

• bottles

• baby formula

Toiletries:

• shampoo

• conditioner

• deodorant

• full-size body lotion

• body wash

Family essentials:

• day planners/ calendars

• batteries

• wireless lights

Reaching for flexibility, financial gain, and big dreams

by CHARLENE DY

photographs by JOSHUA HUSTON

Call me a skeptic, but I had a moment of both longing and utter disbelief when I read this in “Daring Greatly,” Brené Brown’s best-selling book: “It’s a terrible myth to believe that once we have children, our journey ends and theirs begins. For many of us, the most interesting and productive times in our lives come after we have children.”

Here in America, the broader narrative about careers post-motherhood focuses on the many policy shortcomings in politics and workplaces, as well as social norms which limit opportunities for women, families, and communities. But, I’ve been wondering, could there be more to the story, as Brown suggests?

A time of change and creativity

“There’s this term called matrescence,” says Seattle therapist Elizabeth Moore Simpson as she describes the physical, psychological, and emotional changes that characterize motherhood. “We refer to it as the mom equivalent of puberty. It accompanies a huge overhaul of one’s identity.” Simpson is Perinatal Support Washington’s Parental Resilience Program Manager.

This overhaul is built into women’s biology. Elseline Hoekzema, a Dutch neuroscientist, found that early motherhood is a time of enormous neuroplasticity. The brain’s synapses reorder before and after giving birth to allow women to work with better efficiency, bond with their babies, and, crucially, transform their identities. The part of a woman’s brain that understands her sense of self is altered, so that a mother’s “self” expands to include her child.

Might this time flexing a mother’s understanding of self also be a prime moment for

and stay-at-home mom before she ran for public office, a career move that eventually led her to the U.S. Senate where she is now serving in her sixth term. And Ann Bergman, Seattle’s Child publisher, learned first-hand about a need for more information about local family activities and resources in Seattle after she became a parent. She founded the magazine in response to that problem.

If you are a mom ready to write a “second act” in your career, local experts have some helpful guidance.

Know your why

“Priorities, priorities, priorities.”

This is what Lora Poepping,

From cosmetics to the classroom

A mom follows her passions

Alexis White has always considered herself a teacher. She’s just done her teaching under the guise of other titles, starting with babysitter, then moving into retail, and on to cosmetics.

Three years ago, this Seattle-based mom was matching customers with the right makeup colors and teaching them to master their eyeliner technique.

Having a child with autism, however, changed White’s trajectory. She decided in 2022 that she needed to expand her teaching skills by making a career switch. Today she’s doing just that as an instructional assistant at Stevens Elementary in Seattle.

A young start

A passion for all things beauty and body products and teenage persistence turned into her first job, as a stocker at The Body Her manager was so impressed by her customer service on the first day, she told White: “Take the apron off and go in the front of the store.”

Eventually White landed at Sephora, and received rigorous training in color theory, skin types, hygiene, and proper sanitation. That professional development made White a leader in discussions around new products, common store issues, and

by MELODY IP

problem solving.

Catalyst for change

In 2019, White’s 3-year-old son, Francis, was diagnosed with autism. When Francis started school at Stevens, White began volunteering there and later applied for a receptionist job. She didn’t get that job, but the principal offered her work assisting teachers with kids during recess and lunch. She was able to work where Francis was in school, and began “raising her hand” for other opportunities as well.

“I just became the ‘every’ woman,” White says. “I did web training, so I started doing the school website. When someone would ask for something, I could do it or ask for help if I didn’t know how to do it.”

From recess to classroom

White applied to become an instructional assistant. In that position, she provides help with classroom management, offering students social and emotional support and giving them tools to positively process their feelings.

In many ways, White finds classroom principles similar to her cosmetics work, as she empowers students with knowledge and gives them tools to feel good about themselves. Also, in the same way

that White collaborated with her Sephora colleagues, she now partners with teachers and students.

She says her work is all about “having those fluid conversations that are ongoing to build genuine relationships.” As with her prior job, she has to be adept at recognizing why something is or isn’t working.

“I think that limiting your learning to receiving only from grownups is dangerous,” White says. “I learn from my students every day.”

The impact on her parenting

Being an instructional assistant has changed the way White engages with Francis. She is more intentional about their time together and more mindful in the way she speaks to him.

White says it’s hard to see some of the disrespectful ways adults speak to kids. She wants to reassure her own child, “I don’t ever want to be the person who does that to you or makes you feel that way.”

Looking forward

White hopes that the next stage in her career includes acceptance into Seattle Public Schools’ Academy for Rising Educators. The program is a collaboration between SPS and the City of Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning and offers a pathway for educators of color.

White was not accepted into the program’s upcoming cohort, but she remains determined to make the ‘teacher’ title official.

“It’s not a denial,” she says. “It’s a delay. To me it means something big is coming down the pike.”

Alexis White and her son, Francis, at Stevens Elementary, where White is an instructional assistant.

Flexing at Lions & Tigers

CEO Brea Starmer

has created a workplace that works for parents by

Brea Starmer is founder and CEO of Lions & Tigers, a consulting firm that pairs highly experienced marketing, communications, operations and other specialists with clients that need those high-level skills. Starmer success lies in her use of a flexible workforce model where part-time and full-time consultants and freelancers work mostly from home or other remote locations.

It’s an innovative model — one Starmer conceived as a way to balance her consulting passion with another leadership position she concurrently holds and lists under her LinkedIn work experience:

Mother Starmer Family

Jan 2016 to Present / 9 yrs

Mother to three beautiful, wild, curious kids

Like Starmer, many of the people who work at Lions & Tigers are parents who want flexible hours to make work and work-life balance possible.

A big Aha!

Nine years ago, Starmer found herself

CHARLENE DY

jobless after a round of mass layoffs.

“I was on the phone that afternoon,” she says, assuming her next step would be a senior role somewhere else. After all, she had a long history as a high achiever in life and work.

But there was a catch. Starmer was seven months pregnant and says she “grossly misunderstood what pregnancy discrimination would look like.”

After two dozen applications, Starmer wasn’t getting hired. With a baby on the way, her situation felt precarious. Starmer realized she had to shift her pitch: “Will you at least hire me on as freelance?”

“I got three yeses,” she recalls.

During her third trimester, Starmer billed 60 hours a week in an effort to self-fund her own maternity leave, since Washington offered no family leave benefits at the time. Then came Lions & Tigers

After giving birth to her son, Starmer wanted to work at a different pace even as she craved the challenging, high-level projects that had built her consulting career. So she hired a part-time nanny and signed

a part-time consulting contract rather than return to full-time work. She remembers thinking, “This is awesome. I can be present in both. I felt this ideal state of work.”

The next lightbulb went off as she was posting on Facebook for baby sleep advice. When moms showed up en masse with suggestions for pacifiers and sleep schedules, Starmer says she had a revelation: “How much better would our workplaces be if we had that intrinsic caring, nurturing thoughtfulness that comes with motherhood applied to business strategy?”

“I was used to hiring consulting and staffing providers for very specific business needs,” Starmer says. “Everything was transactional, which felt unnatural and lacking for me. Because so many of us at Lions & Tigers are caregivers, we are used to ensuring people are cared for now and planning for what’s next.”

We want that too

Friends who were mothers started asking Starmer how she’d landed on a sweet spot by doing freelance work. Starmer says, “it just really hit me that if I could figure out this path, I could provide that to others.

“I knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I didn’t have a purpose until I was a mother,” Starmer adds. “It’s given me leadership values that are different from how businesses are traditionally run.”

By way of example, Starmer recalls being encouraged to hide her pregnancy by an old boss because they deemed showing a bump too early risky in the company’s culture. You won’t find that culture at Lions &

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 >

recruiter, HR consultant, and president of Seattle’s Plum Coaching and Consulting, hears from clients pursuing a career pivot.

Some want work that offers more flexibility or creates more financial security. Others found that having children was such a transformative experience that they wanted to pursue work that more closely aligned with their new values.

Seattle’s Karen Hui-Saechao, career coach and founder of Made for More Coaching, has worked with women emerging from domestic violence or with limited education, and has seen successful careers forged when clients get clear on the reasons behind wanting to make a change.

“Because once we’re able to name these whys and these purposes, then there’s more of a motivation to do the work that’s needed to get you

Keep Your Knife Sharp

Poepping stresses that it’s important to learn about trends and invest in skills

specific to the industries or functions that you’re interested in.

“Parents will take time off. They do an amazing job taking leadership roles in school, volunteering in the community,” she says. “Unfortunately, they may not carry the same weight in terms of their value. In this crowded job market, employers look for professional work experience that is specific to the role they want to fill.”

In terms of practical advice, Hui-Saechao suggests, “Keep up with the work industry of interest, hiring trends, the technology, and keep your LinkedIn updated.”

She also suggests taking advantage of free or low-cost continuing education websites like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, Coursera, and YouTube. Talk to someone who has the job you want

“People will say to me, ‘Since I raised a lot of money for my school, I think I want to be in fundraising,’” says Poepping. Yet, she says, they haven’t ever spoken to anyone who actually works in development.

Years ago, I thought I’d found my dream job in youth services at a public

Tigers. “As a team of three mother executives,” says Starmer, “We knew that balancing business performance with the human experience was both the right thing to do and the right thing for the business.”

She laid the foundation for her firm during her second pregnancy. Her mission, says Starmer, was to turn the table on traditional consulting, where fresh college graduates work long hours under the guidance of a senior leader. Instead, Starmer built a team model where experienced industry leaders work part time to consult with and guide a client’s staff.

The Lions & Tigers model has attracted professionals like Brenda Fisher, a former senior product manager at Amazon. Before working with Starmer, Fisher was on the verge of dropping out of the workforce in order to be more present for her adopted son.

“I found Brenda to be one of the smartest business strategists I’d met,” says Starmer. With Lions & Tigers, Fisher was able to scale back from full-time work.

Fisher says the company’s model lets her show up as a parent: “I didn’t know I could have both my work and my family.”

Starmer’s flexible work philosophy proved itself at both the competitive and personal levels in the months that followed the birth of her second child. It was then that Lions & Tigers pitched against big agencies to win its first million dollar contract (with Microsoft).

“We were more agile. We were faster,” says Starmer, who crafted the proposal with her team while nursing a newborn. “We came up with a better solution.”

library. After having kids, I thought working in a school library might better fit my family’s schedule. So I asked to chat with the librarian at my son’s school, only to discover that the job was less like being a librarian in a school (my assumption), and more like being a teacher in a library (not for me!).

That information was priceless, and I got it by speaking to a professional in the field.

Cultivate your community

You might be thinking, but I don’t know anyone to talk to. You’re not alone. Poepping once had a client who said, “‘I’ve stayed home with my kids. I have zero network.’”

Poepping responded, “Do you go to soccer?”

She pointed out that the moms and dads waiting on the sidelines have careers, interests, and know other professionals. And, says Poepping, never underestimate how willing people are to help.

“They want to support you!”

But, says Poepping, there is a right way to ask.

Don’t sell yourself

There’s also a wrong way. For example, the only time I’ve ever been ignored when trying to collect about career information was when I started an email request describing my work experience and what I wanted. That was the wrong approach.

Instead, Poepping encourages job seekers to adopt a listen first mindset. Demonstrate curiosity, ask for their insights about the future of a certain industry or role, pose good questions. Then, you’ll find that your connections will likely be curious about you and ask for details about your job search.

Once people feel they have been given an opportunity to share their story, that allows them to hear yours.

“What’s so great about listening is they’ve already told you what’s important to them,” says Poepping. So when it’s your turn to speak, you’re in a position to share how you’ve solved similar problems, or handled specifics related to the topics they’ve covered.”

book preview

‘The Power Pause’ validates SAHM-ing as work

by MELODY IP

Neha Ruch, founder of the online community Mother Untitled, is on a mission to rebrand stay-at-home mothers (SAHMs). Ruch uses her new book “The Power Pause” to exhort SAHMs to reclaim and cultivate their identity and purpose, especially if they’re grieving the loss of prestige, community, and mental stimulation of their careers. The book brings validation and encouragement through expert advice, statistics, and personal anecdotes. Ruch writes that “a career pause is not a life pause,” but rather a season for building community and connection, solidifying personal values, and evaluating goals for one’s future and family.

“The Power Pause,” published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, is available on Jan. 21, 2025.

Brea Starmer with her kids in her home office.

Dads make career shifts after kids, too

Making the leap from business analyst to therapist

Fourteen years ago, Nick Nordberg’s circumstances would have been the makings of a mid-life crisis. His then-wife had given birth to twins at 24 weeks, one of whom had spina bifida and required extensive in-home care. Shortly after, the couple filed for divorce, making Nordberg a single parent. Instead of letting his situation weigh him down, Nordberg, a Puyallup resident, turned his circumstances into a mid-life opportunity.

At the time, he was a business analyst, but found himself struggling to stay invested in his work.

“I’m trying to manage projects and build systems and make processes better for people, and at home I’m dealing with a lot more difficulty,” Nordberg says of that experience.

He was also undergoing counseling and realized, as a client, that he was drawn to the mental health profession. He thought: “I’d like to do something with this — not just get help for myself, but turn that around and help people, whether it’s in a similar situation or something

by MELODY IP

different, to be able to draw upon my own trauma, make sense of it, and help other people.”

In 2014, Norberg quit his job at T-Mobile and enrolled full-time at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology to become a therapist. He described the experience as an intense but healing “boot camp” of unpacking his personal origin story to understand how to do therapy. While attending school, he relied on savings and student loans, but also worked as a Starbucks barista to supplement his income.

“[Switching careers] was a bit of an impetuous decision in some regards,” Nordberg says. He found himself repeatedly engaging in conversations that highlighted his passion for the mental health profession, viewing them as signs to make a drastic change.

He told himself, “I have to find out if this is going to work, otherwise it’s going to drive me crazy not knowing what could have been.”

After graduating in 2018, he became a full-time therapist

for various mental healthcare providers, finding a niche with clients — men, in particular — facing mid-career changes or significant life transitions, as well as late teens and young adults. That same year, his son passed away. That personal loss and his experience in the tech field and corporate world has allowed a stronger connection with clients with similar backgrounds.

In early December 2024, he started a new job as a therapist for students at Walker High School in Puyallup, while still seeing private clients on the side. He says his work also touches his 14-year-old daughter’s school experience. Born with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), she is legally blind.

“While she navigates her world well, it is a loss that she feels and she knows it makes her experience in the world different from other children,” Norberg says. “Being a therapist has helped me to sit with her in that grief and helped her to advocate for herself.”

Nordberg acknowledged that

he would be much further along professionally had he pursued being a therapist from the start, but he doesn’t have regrets. Today he and his daughter are creating a blended family with Norberg’s girlfriend and her two children.

“I think of how your life is like a tapestry; there are different threads, and you can’t really pull one of them because they’re all part of what shaped you,” Nordberg says. “They’re all part of what got you to where you are today.”

Imagine a community of mothers, each one an accomplished business owner and each one offering you their mentorship. What an opportunity!

That is what designer Amanda Jane Jones and writer Jennifer Fernandez provide in their book, “Mother/Founder: 68 Women on the Trials and Triumphs of Starting a Business and Raising a Family.”

by CHARLENE DY

When Jones started her own design firm, she discovered she could set flexible hours, earn more than she ever had before, and raise a family on her own terms. So she reached out to mother-entrepreneurs across the country to share their stories and advice for “anyone seeking inspiration as they forge a new path or career for themselves.”

Like Jones, many work in creative fields —food, fashion, interior design — but the book doesn’t lack diverse examples, featuring an immigration lawyer, a gun safety advocate, a midwife,

ONE

Nick Nordberg is a therapist, finding a niche helping men facing mid-career changes or significant life transitions.

In grad school, Nordberg read a quote by psychologist Carl Jung that he often shares with clients, both parents and teens: “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parents.”

“For me, I think this encapsulates how becoming a parent changed my career trajectory,” Nordberg says, adding that his work as a therapist gives him more flexibility to accommodate his daughter’s school schedule and navigate her changing needs.

“It has given me insight into child development and understanding how our family story has impacted my own child,” Norberg says. “If I want to raise children that fulfill their potential, I have to first model that for them.”

and Seattle’s own Arianne Foulks, the founder of website design and development firm Aeolidia.

The women explain the nitty-gritty of how they built their businesses, opening up about everything from time management, choosing clients, their personal definitions of success, and how they prioritize family time.

Most impactful are Jones’ personal essays, where she is startlingly honest about her challenges: burning bridges due to disorganization, failing to ask critical questions that affected her ability to deliver, forgetting to put aside money for taxes.

Her writing is compelling, shared from a place of generosity and wisdom. She demonstrates that relationships can be repaired, taxes paid, lessons learned, and above all, that women can build businesses and raise families with joyful confidence.

Source: Open Study College

Could I do that?

How a newspaper reporter became a birth worker by

CHERYL MURFIN

I met my husband over a dead body.

I mean that literally. We were both newspaper reporters at the time, covering a body discovered in an abandoned minivan. It was my first day in his newsroom and we hadn’t yet met when two different editors sent us to the same story. Standing on the railroad tracks above the minivan, I did my best to block his view and sabotage his reporting. I was all about the scoop back then.

Ultimately, the editors discovered their error and made us write the piece together. The rest, as they say, is history.

I loved living on the edge of a breaking story, writing about serial killers, hanging out with detectives in seedy bars, and making midnight calls to police stations and county medical investigators in search of news. Being a reporter was who I was. It was my identity, full stop. Then, in the most significant news scoop of my life, my daughter was born.

The minute she was published, I went from being a New York Times writer wannabe to being MADDY’S MOM. Less than a month later, afraid to bring home the energy of the gruesome news to my sweet baby, I put in my notice and walked out of daily journalism forever.

Let me be clear: being Maddy’s mom was wonderful (and it still is 30 years later). But in walking

away from daily news I walked right into an identity crisis. By the time my second child was two years old, it was clear that I not only needed to return to work but I also needed a new work identity, one aligned with my newish motherform.

Strangely, I found it in the birth experience itself. I say strangely because before I got pregnant, I thought midwifery was a relic of medieval times, and a doula sounded like what a dog did on the grass. But then I met a midwife and a doula. The physical and emotional care they provided before, during, and after my kids’ births was so profound I found myself returning again and again to ask, “Could I do that?”

It turned out I could. I took the first steps and trained and certified as a doula. It felt right, so I continued my training and built a practice, starting slow and widening as my kids became more independent. I’ve continued learning: I can say without any doubt that every one of the more than 2,000 families I’ve worked with has taught me something important, not just medically, but about love, commitment, and the strength of the human spirit.

I view the two years I spent caring for young children at home as a doorway from one passion to another. It was in that space that I asked myself important new questions: Not what am I good at, but what am I passionate about? Do I have the interest, discipline, and family support to try

by MELODY IP

Wendy Wong with her nephews, modeling JuneAdaptive.com clothing.

Cheryl Murfin supporting a soon-to-be mom as a doula.

Wendy Wong’s big career switch happened not after the arrival of her first baby, but during the months leading up to it.

A former tech industry worker, Wong recently moved from Toronto to Seattle for her husband’s job and to be closer to family in Vancouver, BC, where she grew up. In moving to Puget Sound, she gave up Canada’s generous benefits for new parents and families.

Knowing the pitfalls around parental

leave and child care costs in the U.S., Wong did what she felt was best. She parted ways with her old job in August 2024 to focus on the very personal passion project she’s been working on since 2021. With her baby due any minute, Wong’s now working full-time on JuneAdaptive.com, a clothing business connecting people with disabilities with comfortable, easy-to-don threads.

A business born from family experience

When Wong was 17, her aunt June became a quadriplegic after a car accident and was unable to dress herself. Wong was determined to find clothes for her aunt, but she came up empty.

These days, the fashion industry has been catching up with the broader needs of consumers like Wong’s aunt. “Adaptive clothing” makers incorporate features — magnetic fasteners, Velcro, side openings, zippers — to make getting dressed easier, while maintaining comfort and style.

“I wish I knew about adaptive clothing 15 years ago,” Wong says. “I felt ashamed that, even though I was going to fashion school, I couldn’t find the clothes that would work for my aunt.”

Wong felt guilty about her inability to help her aunt, but recently realized that the fashion industry has failed to address the needs of people living with disabilities. As a result, Wong launched JuneAdaptive.com to help families, including her own.

The right background for a new career

Wong’s mother-in-law, who has multiple sclerosis, as well as kids in her extended family, also have challenges with getting dressed. With the rising awareness around neurodiversity and inclusivity, Wong’s nephews and niece, whom she occasionally cares for, inspired JuneAdaptive.com’s Inclusive Threads collection, a line for neurodiverse people which celebrates mental health.

Wong’s professional background in e-commerce and fashion provided the skills to get her business off the ground — even while working full-time in tech — but focusing solely on JuneAdaptive.com was more of a dream than an actual goal. However, when Wong became pregnant and knew she was moving to Seattle, she realized it was the right time to take the leap.

Having saved some earnings during her years in the corporate world, and with her husband’s income and health benefits, Wong acknowledges that their privilege made her long-held dream possible.

Redefining her path

“It just made sense to take a side step from the corporate life and see if I can make this work full-time and spend more

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 >

Helping women make or change careers

Dress for Success Seattle

by CHARLENE DY

Malia Razzaia knows a thing or two about empowering women toward new careers. She’s executive director of Dress for Success Seattle, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women toward sustainable economic independence. The organization provides everything from education to outfits for job interviews.

“What makes Dress for Success Seattle unique is that we provide a safe space for women, wherever they might be in their professional, personal, and economic journeys,” says Razzaia. The organization helps between 500 and 1,000 women in King County leap into the workforce or transition to new work.

Razzaia also knows a lot about the barriers women face. Moms, she notes, are disproportionately expected to carry the burden of caring for their families, and many leave the workforce due to the stress and cost of child care. Women also continue to face pay inequity compared with men. In a recent review of pay parity across the United States, Washington ranked bottom. The state was “the second worst in the entire nation for parity,” says Razzaia. “We edge out only Utah.”

Dress for Success aims to help women navigate such challenges. “Our mission is to support women who are unemployed or underemployed,” Razzaia says.

She adds that the group meets its mission by asking questions like “How do we set a woman up for financial success in the long term? And not just herself, but her family, her kids.” From there, Dress for Success provides women with educational workshops, career coaching, mentoring, professional attire, and more. Financial education is another critical part of the support pie.

“The reality is that sustainability is what is going to lead women to pay parity,” says Razzaia. “It’s what is going to lead society to a shift in this belief that women are solely responsible for child-rearing. It is what’s going to change the world.

COULD I DO THAT?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 >

something new? Is there a way to continue the part of the old work that I loved (writing) within a new career? Who do I want to be for myself and my children? Will changing careers get me closer to that person? How will this new work fit into family relationships and obligations?

Changing careers takes work and determination. Being self-employed takes focus, structure, and a commitment to finding a work-life balance. It also took some negotiation — my husband had to be willing to care for kids when a birth took me out of the house for a day or three. Birthworkers are on call 24/7, and most long-term doulas and midwives miss birthdays and holidays that their families wish they wouldn’t miss.

Still, few people can look back on their work and see a town of faces looking back at them. I take a lot of pride in that.

Over the years, new moms have asked me about changing careers after a child arrives. “Should I? Can I?” they ask. I am a cheerleader. I encourage young parents, especially those who stay home for some time, to use time with their young family to dream for themselves. No idea is too big or too small. You don’t have to make a change all at once. There is a way.

Not long ago, I retired from the birthing room. You could say I have returned to my first career path while remaining connected to the last. As the managing editor of Seattle’s Child magazine, I am still learning from parents. As a writing workshop leader I am indulging my interests in travel and building community. Just as I was with those old detectives and in the newsroom, I am living my passions.

Open doors

REDEFINING HER PATH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 >

time with the kids,” Wong says. She also feels passionate about creating something that can make a difference in people’s lives and finding a better balance between career, family, and personal well-being.

While Wong was still at her corporate job, she chose to keep her pregnancy private, knowing the challenges that women face in the workforce, especially in tech.

“While there’s been progress toward gender equality, I’ve witnessed firsthand how biases — often subtle and unspoken — can still impact women and mothers in the workplace,” she says.

Owning her schedule means more flexibility to care for her health, her family, and other needs — things difficult to prioritize before.

“The shift feels empowering, and it’s a reminder that, even though there are still many challenges, there are also opportunities for growth and resilience — especially when you’re willing to redefine your path,” Wong said.

OVER 70% OF WOMEN WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 ARE WORKING TODAY.

Source: The Brookings Institute

PLAN YOUR SUMMER: Visit our online

camps and classes

SummerTime Preview

ACADEMICS

Art of Problem Solving Academy

Grades 1-12

1750 112th Ave. NE, Suite B-100, Bellevue 98004 17875 Redmond Way, Ste 110, Redmond 98052 Bellevue: 425-777-7550 Redmond: 425-380-2878 bellevue@aopsacademy.org redmond@aopsacademy.org aopsacademy.org

Art of Problem Solving Academies offers after-school and weekend academic year programs for students in grades 1-12. Summer is a great time for students to combat learning loss with our enrichment camps in math, language arts, and science. In our classrooms, students do the heavy

lifting. Driven by rigor, creativity, and collaboration, we’re committed to empowering the next generation of problem solvers.

Bellevue Children’s Academy

Grades Pre-K-4

14640 NE 24th St., Bellevue 98007 425-649-0791 Option 2 summer@bcacademy.com bcacademy.com/programs/ summerschool

BCA Summer School offers Pre-K to 4thgrade students an excellent opportunity to reinforce learning and prepare for the upcoming school year. Our program includes a thought-provoking English and math curriculum and exciting activities involving

project-based science and social studies units that promote creativity, independent thinking, and self-confidence.

Evergreen Academy

Summer @ Evergreen Academy

Grades Pre-K-6

16017 118th Place NE, Bothell 98011 425-488-8000 tshepherd@springedugroup.com evergreenacademy.com/ elementary/seattle/bothell

This summer, embrace learning, wonder, thrill, and adventure at Evergreen Academy summer camp! Your child will dive into exciting hands-on activities, make lasting memories, and discover new skills. From on-stage performances to math challenges, digital art, and outdoor activities, we nurture every camper’s unique strengths and interests while empowering them to embrace challenges and new opportunities with courage, confidence, and determination.

Girls Rock Math

Grades 1-8

Locations in Bellevue, Seattle and Shoreline 206-408-8078 girlsrockmath.org

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Girls Rock Math is an empowering, artsbased math camp. Our camps offer engaging themes that capture a girl’s interest and imagination, and we use that as a catalyst for math growth through real-life, hands-on math projects. Creative and fun experiences with math help develop confidence, excitement, and joy around learning.

RSM

Grades K-12

Locations in Bellevue, Factoria, and Redmond bellevue@mathschool.com factoria@mathschool.com redmond@mathschool.com mathschool.com

The Russian School of Mathematics is an award-winning, after-school math program for K-12 students. Recently named “among the top schools in the world” by the Johns Hopkins CTY, we help children of all levels excel in mathematics. At RSM, we believe all children can develop a solid foundation in math if taught correctly.

Soundview School

Ages 3-13

6515 196th St. SW, Lynnwood 98036 425-778-8572 ctaylor@soundview.org soundview.org/auxiliary-programs

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Soundview is thrilled to announce the opening of registrations for its exciting summer programs. Our diverse range

of classes ensures a vibrant and enriching experience for everyone. With guidance from our certified professional educators, participants explore tailored activities, fostering a hands-on and engaging educational environment. Register now for an unforgettable educational journey filled with exploration, creativity, and leadership development.

ANIMALS & FARMING

Red Gate Farm Day Camp

Ages 6-12

23836 SE 24th St., Sammamish 98075 425-466-3800 redgatefarmtraining@gmail.com redgatefarmdaycamp.com

Build self-confidence while enjoying the pleasures of riding and developing a friendship with your camp horse. Campers will be assigned one horse with another camper that will be theirs for the whole week. They will learn everything about horse care, including basic grooming, saddling, and even horse psychology! Other activities include arts, crafts, and games. On the last day of every session, campers demonstrate their new riding skills with a horse show.

Tilth Alliance

Ages 1-15

4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, #100, Seattle 98103 5513 S Cloverdale St., Seattle 98118 206-633-0451 youthprograms@tilthalliance.org tilthalliance.org/our-work/ youth-families

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

At Tilth Alliance’s Summer Farm & Garden Camps, kids ages 1 to 15 spend summer days outdoors being urban farmers and gardeners. Kids discover where food comes from and learn about the natural world. Summer camp is also a time to have fun adventures, explore our gardens and farm, engage in science investigations, make art, sing songs, and cook up delicious dishes.

ARTS, CRAFTS & COOKING

Summer@Cornish

Ages 14-18

1000 Lenora St., Seattle 98121 206-726-5185 extension@cornish.edu plus.cornish.edu/ summeratcornish

Summer@Cornish is a 4-week intensive program offering high school students a mini-college experience at Cornish College of the Arts. Students can develop their artistic practice through full-day intensives & half-day programs in art, design, dance, music, and more! Scholarships and housing options available. 10% off tuition if registered before March 1st.

SummerDirectory

Pratt Fine Arts Center

Youth & Teen Summer Camps and Classes

Ages 6-17

1902 South Main St., Seattle 98144 bzahniser@pratt.org pratt.org/youthteensummer.php

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Mark your calendars! Registration opens soon for our full and half-day art camps for youth & teens. Youth will learn skills from professional artists and teens can experiment in mediums like painting, blacksmithing, glassblowing, jewelry making, screen printing, and more! For questions, contact Youth & Teen Studio Manager Bailey Zahniser (she/they) at bzahniser@pratt.org. Registration opens February 13, 2025.

The Little School Summer Camp

Ages 3-11

2812 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue 98004 425-827-8708

Thelittleschool.org

Join us on our 12.5-acre wooded campus for 7 weeks of summer camp adventures and activities! Our weekly themes connect the daily activities, which include exploring our amazing woods, water play days, art projects, and much more. Our Summer Camp team are kind counselors who work to understand children’s interests, helping them to make strong friendships while enjoying the full warmth that summer camp brings.

Tilth Alliance

Ages 1-15

4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, #100, Seattle 98103 5513 S Cloverdale St., Seattle 98118 206-633-0451

youthprograms@tilthalliance.org tilthalliance.org/our-work/ youth-families

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

MULTI-ACTIVITY

Brighton School

Summer @ Brighton School

Age 3-grade 8

21705 58th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace 98043 425-640-7067 tshepherd@springedugroup.com brightonschool.com

Embrace the adventure at Summer @ Brighton School, where your child will create unforgettable memories and develop valuable new skills while ensuring essential safety measures and flexible scheduling. Campers immerse themselves in hands-on activities from science and nature exploration to creative and performing arts, sports,

and games every week. Our camp offers a perfect blend of exciting indoor and outdoor adventures.

Camp Killoqua

Kindergarten-12th grade 15207 East Lake Goodwin Road, Stanwood 98292 360-652-6250 killoqua@campfiresnoco.org campkilloqua.org

Camp Killoqua offers unforgettable day and overnight camps for kids in grades K-12. On 185 scenic acres, campers enjoy swimming, archery, arts and crafts, horseback riding, outdoor exploration, campfires, and more. Programs foster friendships, leadership, and a love for nature in a safe, inclusive environment, creating lifelong memories and building confidence.

Evergreen Academy

Summer @ Evergreen Academy Grades Pre-K-6 16017 118th Place NE, Bothell 98011 425-488-8000 tshepherd@springedugroup.com evergreenacademy.com/ elementary/seattle/bothell

SummerDirectory

and interests while empowering them to embrace challenges and new opportunities with courage, confidence, and determination.

SAMBICA

Grades 2-12

4114 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE, Bellevue 98008 425-746-9110 camp@sambica.com sambica.com

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Located on the shores of Lake Sammamish, SAMBICA offers ten thrilling weeks of summer camp to kids of all ages. Serving as “A Light on the Lake” for 106 years, SAMBICA combines the language of play with the vision of inspiring youth to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Soundview School

Ages 3-13

6515 196th St. SW, Lynnwood 98036 425-778-8572 ctaylor@soundview.org soundview.org/ auxiliary-programs

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Soundview is thrilled to announce the opening of registrations for its exciting summer programs. Our diverse range of classes ensures a vibrant and enriching experience for everyone. With guidance from our certified professional educators, participants explore tailored activities, fostering a hands-on and engaging educational environment. Register now for an unforgettable educational journey filled with exploration, creativity, and leadership development.

Stroum Jewish Community Center

Summer J Camp

Grades PreK-10

3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island 98040 206-232-7115 camp@sjcc.org sjcc.org/j-camp

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Summer J Camp returns June 23- August 22. With 60+ unique camps to choose from, kids dive into their passions and uncover new interests in a loving environment that encourages exploration + self-discovery. Save 10% when you register by February 26.

Summer at Cedar River Montessori

Ages 3-12

15828 SE Jones Road, Renton 98058 425-271-9614 summer@cedarrivermontessori.org cedarrivermontessori.org/ programs/summer

Summer at Cedar River is a classic day camp experience! Elementary students (entering grades 2-6 in Fall 2025) make new friends and discover new interests on campus

and weekly field trips. Early childhood students explore their world through crafts, games, and science. Special learning experiences for graduating kindergarteners and all summer campers get daily swimming opportunities on campus.

Villa Ventures: The Ultimate Summer Adventure Ages 4-17

5001 NE 50th St., Seattle 98105 206-524-8885 enrollment@thevilla.org thevilla.org/summer

Villa Ventures provides the largest, most robust summer camp experience in Seattle. Located on Villa Academy’s campus, Villa Ventures Summer Camps feature high-quality, engaging outdoor and indoor experiences designed for curious and creative minds ages 4 to 17. There are activities for everyone—carpentry, coding, forest games, and more. Registration opens on February 15 at 8 a.m.!

NATURE & ENVIRONMENT

Camp Killoqua

Kindergarten-12th grade 15207 East Lake Goodwin Road, Stanwood 98292 360-652-6250 killoqua@campfiresnoco.org campkilloqua.org

Red Gate Farm Day Camp

Ages 6-12

23836 SE 24th St., Sammamish 98075 425-466-3800 redgatefarmtraining@gmail.com redgatefarmdaycamp.com

Build self-confidence while enjoying the pleasures of riding and developing a friendship with your camp horse. Campers will be assigned one horse with another camper that will be theirs for the whole week. They will learn everything about horse care including basic grooming, saddling, and even horse psychology! Other activities include arts, crafts, and games. On the last day of every session, campers demonstrate their new riding skills with a horse show.

The Little School Summer Camp

Ages 3-11

2812 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue 98004 425-827-8708

Thelittleschool.org

Villa Ventures: The Ultimate Summer Adventure Ages 4-17

5001 NE 50th St., Seattle 98105 206-524-8885 enrollment@thevilla.org thevilla.org/summer

Wilderness Awareness School

Wilderness Awareness Summer Camp

Ages 6-18

Duvall, Issaquah, Seattle, Carnation, and Kenmore 425-788-1301 wasnet@wildernessawareness.org wildernessawareness.org/ youth-programs

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

For over 40 years, Wilderness Awareness School students have been discovering the wonders of nature, exploring the outdoors, and building friendships. Campers work together gaining nature awareness and experiential knowledge of plants, animals, animal tracks, birds and survival skills. Storytelling and engaging activities make learning fun and nurture students’ connections to the earth.

Wolf Camp

Ages 7-17

4460 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE, Issaquah 98029 425-248-0253, Ext. 1 blueskyefarmschool@gmail.com wolf.camp

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE Wolf Camp & School of Natural

Science hosts summer camps, family classes, weekend workshops, and apprenticeships at Lake Sammamish, Mt. Rainier, and Puyallup. Skilled instructors lead camps at 6-1 ratios on themes of Wilderness Survival Craft, Wild Cooking & Herbology, Wildlife Search & Rescue, Archers, Artists & Artisans, and the Out-of-this-World Wilderness Camp.

OVERNIGHT

Camp Killoqua

Kindergarten-12th grade

15207 East Lake Goodwin Road, Stanwood 98292 360-652-6250 killoqua@campfiresnoco.org campkilloqua.org

Wilderness Awareness School

Wilderness Awareness Summer Camp

Ages 6-18

Duvall, Issaquah, Seattle, Carnation, and Kenmore 425-788-1301 wasnet@wildernessawareness.org wildernessawareness.org/ youth-programs

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

PERFORMING ARTS

All That Dance

All ages

3012 NE Blakeley St., Seattle 98105 206-524-8944 info@all-that-dance.com allthatdanceseattle.com

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Dance, play and explore at All That Dance. Our inclusive, creative environment is the

perfect place for your child to have their first dance experience, build skills, and grow as a dancer and human. We offer ballet, tap, modern, jazz, pop styles, and lyrical classes for all ages.

Creative Dance Center

Summer Camps and Classes

All ages

12577 Densmore Ave. N, Seattle 98133 206-363-7281 info@creativedance.org creativedance.org

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Summer at CDC includes classes for all ages and multi-arts dance camps. Camps include Taylor Swift, Art in Motion, Ballet Stories, Musical Theatre (Wicked, Moana, Descendants), and EnviroDance. Our Teen Intensive, for ages 13-19, provides an opportunity for creative growth. Classes include Nurturing Baby, Caregiver-Child, Creative Dance, Hip Hop, Ballet and Modern. Also offering Adaptive BrainDance at no cost.

Stone Soup Theatre

SummerStage Ages 5-17

Meridian Playground, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle 98103 Jefferson Park, 3801 Beacon Ave. S, Seattle 98108 206-388-9212 education@stonesouptheatre.org stonesouptheatre.org

Whether they’re new to acting or seasoned performers, our camps give your child the space and confidence to shine on stage and in life. Join us this summer at our two outdoor parks: Meridian Playground and Jefferson Park. Weekly camps run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, with before- and after-care available. Plus, each camp ends with a Friday performance for your child to show off their talents. Choose from an exciting lineup of programs!

RELI GIOUS

SAMBICA

Grades 2-12

4114 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE, Bellevue 98008 425-746-9110 camp@sambica.com sambica.com

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Empowering the next generation of problem solvers

Take a closer l k at these camps!

BELLEVUE CHILDREN’S ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP

Grades Pre-K-4 14640 NE 24th St., Bellevue 98007 (425) 649-0791, Option 2 summer@bcacademy.com bcacademy.com/summer

Explore the enriching environment of BCA’s Summer School, open to both BCA and non-BCA students. We oﬀer six one-week sessions with class sizes capped between 10-16 students. Our personalized approach ensures that each child receives focused attention. Daily activities include core academic subjects like English and math, complemented by project-based learning in science and social studies, aligned with the session’s theme. For added convenience, aftercare and lunch services are available, all within a nurturing setting managed by our dedicated staﬀ.

GIRLS ROCK MATH

Grades 1-6

3201 E Republican St., Seattle 98112 206-408-8078 camp@girlsrockmath.org GirlsRockMath.org

Girls Rock Math is an arts-based math camp focused on empowering girls in STEAM subjects. Our hands-on themes capture the imagination, ignite deeper mathematical thinking, and help campers feel conﬁdent in their abilities. As part of a community where “Girl Power” rules, our campers develop leadership skills, make friends, take on challenges, and learn together in a meaningful way. With so many curricular themes to choose among, there is truly something for everyone!

ADVENTURE QUEST

Ages 6-17 Woodland Park, 1000 N. 50th St., Seattle 98103 360-836-0386 info@majesticadventures.net questnorthwest.com/seattle

In Adventure Quest, children and teens become “Questers” –the heroes of an incredibly fun and dynamic quest, working together in a mythical and magical world to overcome interesting challenges, solve mystifying riddles, brainstorm unique solutions to puzzling dilemmas, and swashbuckle with foes. Each week of camp is a unique “Quest” – an interactive story that engages the campers’ imaginations, exercises their bodies and minds, and teaches them the fundamental principles of responsible empowerment, creative problem-solving, teamwork, and cooperative conﬂict resolution.

STEAMOJI CAMPS

Ages 5-14

16630 Redmond Way, Suite 110, Redmond, WA 98052 355 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, WA 98033 Redmond (425) 242-0350, Kirkland (425) 269-6694 info@steamoji.com steamoji.com/camps

Turn downtime into discovery time with hands-on projects in 3D printing, engineering, coding, robotics and more.

From catapult competitions that will engage their engineering brains, to coding and designing an RGB desk lamp, kids get into a growth mindset and problem-solving zone. By the end of the week, they’ll be makers, entrepreneurs, and inventors – ready to dream up their next big idea.

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Winter, Spring, and Summer.

TILTH ALLIANCE’S FARM & GARDEN CAMPS

Ages 1-15

4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103 5513 S Cloverdale St., Seattle, WA 98118 206-633-0451 • youthprograms@tilthalliance.org tilthalliance.org/get-involved/youth-programs

Get ready for epic farm and garden adventures at Tilth Alliance! From Mid-Winter and Spring Break camps exploring garden ecosystems and global cooking, to our upcoming Summer Camp programs, we invite young outdoor explorers to learn and play with us in the garden. Students will have a blast discovering where food comes from through fun hands-on experiences designed by our experienced instructors. Registration for vacation camps is available now. Summer camp registration opens February 3 at our Wallingford and Rainier Beach locations, with sliding-scale pricing and scholarships available.

STONE SOUP THEATRE CAMP

Ages 5-17

Meridian Playﬁeld 4920 Meridian Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Jefferson Park 3801 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108 (206) 388 9212

education@stonesouptheatre.org stonesouptheatre.org

Have fun acting and performing outdoors weekly, with exciting musicals and plays. Your performer will love “acting out” by singing and dancing to one of our many exciting theatre camps. We have two main camp locations in Seattle — Meridian Playground (North) and Jeﬀerson Park (South). Summer camps begin their day at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m., Monday-Friday, with before- and after-care available. Visit our website to enroll and bring the magic of theatre to a park near you!

WOLF CAMP

Ages 7-17

4460 E. Lake Sammamish Parkway SE, Issaquah 98029 425-248-0253, ext. 1 blueskyefarmschool@gmail.com wolfcamp.com

Wolf Camp oﬀers unique day and overnight camps at Lake Sammamish, Puyallup and Mt. Rainier, including introductory choices of Wilderness Survival Craft, Wild Cooking & Herbology and Wildlife Search & Rescue, plus advanced themes like Archers, Artists & Artisans and the Out-of-this-World Wilderness Camp. Directors Kim & Chris Chisholm are on-site during all programs, supervising highly skilled instructors at a tight 6:1 ratio that’s critical for real, fun and safe outdoor training programs.

SummerDirectory

S.T.E.A.M.

Brighton School

Summer @ Brighton School

Age 3-grade 8

21705 58th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace 98043 425-640-7067 tshepherd@springedugroup.com brightonschool.com

Girls Rock Math

Grades 1-8

Locations in Bellevue, Seattle and Shoreline 206-408-8078 girlsrockmath.org

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Girls Rock Math is an empowering, arts-based math camp. Our camps offer engaging themes that capture a girl’s interest and imagination, and we use that as a catalyst for math growth through

real-life, hands-on math projects. Creative and fun experiences with math help develop confidence, excitement, and joy around learning.

Majestic Adventures

Adventure Quest

Ages 6-17

Woodland Park, 1000 N 50th St., Seattle 98103 360-836-0386 info@majesticadventures.net questnorthwest.com/seattle

Steamoji

Ages 5-14

16630 Redmond Way, Suite 110, Redmond 98052

355 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland 98033

Redmond: 425-242-0350 Kirkland: 425-269-6694 info@steamoji.com steamoji.com

Steamoji is a maker academy for

kids ages 5-18 that trains builders, makers, inventors and entrepreneurs. The best way to prepare for a world of accelerating change is to train our children with the foundational skills and mindsets to build solutions to the problems of their future. Visit steamoji.com for more information or to register for camps and after-school programs.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Eastside Play Therapy and Polaris Family Behavioral Health

Playful Warriors Summer Intensives

Ages 6-18

Bellevue, WA polarisfamilybehavioral health.com

Eastside Play Therapy and Polaris FBH are teaming up for a weeklong summer intensive treatment program with two important goals: Fight anxiety/OCD and have fun! There will be play, friend time, and a lot of intense exposures. Camp weeks are July 14-18 and July 28-August 1.

SPORTS & FITNESS

Alpha Gymnastics

Ages 5-12

15000 Woodinville-Redmond Road, B200, Woodinville 98072

425-486-7429

info@alphagymnasticswa.com alphagymnasticswa.com

Established in 1992, Alpha Gymnastics strives to educate and inspire students and athletes to develop quality gymnastics and build strong self-esteem with character and integrity. This summer we are offering full-day, half-day and single classes with exciting themes that will keep your kids active. Register by April 15 for a 10% discount.

Brighton School

Summer @ Brighton School

Age 3-grade 8

21705 58th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace 98043

425-640-7067

tshepherd@springedugroup.com brightonschool.com

Summer Goals:

1) fight anxiety/OCD 2) have fun!

Playful Warriors

Summer Play Therapy Intensive July 14-18 and July 28-August 1 Register and learn more at polarisfamilybehaviorialhealth.com

Ages 6-18

Brought to you by partnership of the therapeutic teams of